Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began their tour of Colombia with a visit to a local school, but it seemed like they were both vying for the spotlight.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped back from Royal duties in 2020, joined Vice President Francia Marquez and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, for a breakfast meeting in Bogota on Thursday morning. Meghan looked stylish in a $770 Orlinda vest by designer Veronica Beard, while Harry chose a navy suit paired with a casual shirt.
The pair paid a visit to the Colegio Cultura Popular school in the city, where they were shown around and given an informative talk by the head of the institution, Leonel Umana Parra, and student Jose David. However, during their deep conversation, a lip reader spotted a tense moment between the couple, with Meghan appearing "strained" as she cut in.
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Professional lip reader Nicola Hickling observed that Prince Harry was about to speak when Meghan interrupted him to address the boy first. As seen in the footage, Harry quickly shuts his mouth and turns towards his wife, who then takes the lead, signaling with a nod.
Hickling explained: "Harry is about to say something ("look") when Meghan interrupts him and speaks to the boy. Meghan's eyes are closed and she clasps her hands together, it's almost like she is straining to speak at first."
The lip-reader then revealed that Meghan Markle asked the young boy: "So, so you won an award in products, is that right?" While Prince Harry inquired: "How serious were you when you took on this offer?"
During their visit to the school, Prince Harry charmed everyone by attempting to count in Spanish and opened up about his own children, Archie, aged five, and three year old Lilibet. "I have young children and they're not on social media," he shared with the audience, as reported by Ms Hickling.
As they departed the vice president's office, Meghan was overheard giving a subtle command to her husband. Ms Hickling caught Meghan whispering "hand," to which Harry promptly responded, "Here you go."
Body language expert Judi James spoke to The Mirror about Meghan's poise throughout the trip, suggesting her confidence might be why she often leads conversations. She observed: "She looks totally in her element, almost as though this is a moment she has been waiting for all her life. Her shoulders are splayed and her elbows tucked into her torso as she carries her large designer bag in one hand and allows her royal husband to tow her along with the other."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's trip to Colombia, at the invitation of Vice President Francia Marquez, is packed with engagements, including meetings with leaders and discussions on cyberbullying issues. Their Archewell Foundation aims to champion safer online spaces.
Harry and Meghan are set to embark on their inaugural joint visit to Colombia, where they'll explore Cartagena and Cali. The trip is significant as Colombia was the first South American nation to participate in Harry's Invictus Games for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans, making their debut at the Dusseldorf event in September 2023.
Marquez commented: "The conference will present a global framework for creating safer physical and virtual spaces, addressing issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation and the impact of these threats on mental health. It will offer practical solutions and commitments for countries around the world. During their visit, the Duke and Duchess, as well as the Archewell Foundation, will take part in a number of activities related to this important topic."
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